Bucks show slowing Steph, Warriors requires group effort

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Steph Curry is in the midst of a tough stretch, with the Warriors star's latest outing just a 12-point performance in a blowout road loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

After the game, the Bucks emphasized it wasn't the work of just one player in keeping Steph and this talent-laden Warriors roster in check.

"I think the whole group, it's hard to put into words what a great player he is and generational, changed the game, and so you end up having five guys locked in and trying to make it hard for him," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said after Thursday night's 118-99 win over the Warriors. "So obviously [Wesley Matthews] Wes gets kind of the beginning, and then you have four people tracking him everywhere he goes, and it just takes that kind of effort against a player like Curry."

Matthews did guard Steph for 7:53 of game action, per NBA.com advanced stats, an extended amount for a single contest. Curry shot 0 of 3 from the field when defended by Matthews, and had two assists along with one turnover.

The Bucks simply owned the Warriors from the jump, taking a remarkable 77-38 halftime lead, the largest deficit the franchise has had after the first half since moving to California in 1962.

Curry was struggling entering the game, and the loss marked his eighth consecutive game shooting under 50 percent from the field, the longest such streak of his career.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr recently spoke about Curry's pursuit of the all-time 3-point record taking a lot out of the star point guard, and the numbers do seem to bear that out.

RELATED: Why Steph, Warriors not hitting panic button after loss vs. Bucks

In 11 appearances since Curry's record-breaking night, he's shooting just 39.1 percent from the field (33.6 from 3-point range) and scoring 25.5 points per game, along with averaging 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds. For reference, Steph has shot 47.4 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range in his career.

Draymond Green's absence also has been detrimental for Curry and the Warriors' output on both ends. In the past four games outside of Green's ceremonial start alongside Klay Thompson, the Warriors have looked like a different team with their star forward on the bench. Golden State is 1-3 in those games, and topped 100 points only once. The Warriors had failed to reach the century mark just four times in their previous 37 games.

The Warriors won't have much time to dwell on the defeat as they head down to Chicago for a Friday night clash with the Bulls, another of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. We'll see if Curry can work out of his funk, especially with Thompson (rest) unlikely to play and Gary Payton II (back injury) being ruled out.

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